New Groves hospital finally gets the green light

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2011

New Groves hospital finally gets the green light
(Wellington-Halton Hills) – Groves Memorial Community Hospital finally received approval today to
proceed with its new facility. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, who has long championed the
hospital and its proposal, sees it as a major victory for the community.

“Working together, we’ve established the need for our new hospital,” said Mr. Arnott. “Our objective was
to build a compelling case for the new hospital, doing it publicly and respectfully, and to put the Minister
in a position where she couldn’t say ‘no.’” Having advocated relentlessly for the project since 2002, he
has always refused to accept a negative answer.

Mr. Arnott expressed appreciation to everyone involved: “Persistence and doing your homework always
pays off. For that, the board, staff and volunteers deserve our thanks and congratulations.

“We’re also grateful to the many generous contributors and supporters in our community, as well as our
local Councils and the County of Wellington,” he added. “I also want to thank the Minister of Health for
making this announcement possible.”

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Expecting the Liberal government to make hospital announcements in the weeks prior to the October 6
provincial election, Mr. Arnott left no stone unturned. Through many letters, frequent statements in the
Legislature, numerous conversations with successive Ministers of Health, and even a special debate on
the issue, Mr. Arnott used every possible legislative tool to ensure the community could not be
overlooked.

“We’ve made this a public issue,” he said. “We’ve repeatedly called attention to the need; I believe the
Minister felt she had no choice but to respond with the approval.” Most recently, Mr. Arnott hand-
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delivered his August 16 letter to the office of the Minister of Health. He again reiterated his unqualified
support for the hospital.

Elizabeth Witmer, Ontario’s former Minister of Health, praised Mr. Arnott’s work on behalf of Groves: “If it
hadn’t been for Ted’s persistence and determination, it is unlikely the government would have made this
commitment,” she said.

Prior to the last provincial election in 2007, the government awarded Groves a $500,000 planning grant
for the new facility. At the time, the Minister’s office told Mr. Arnott that his advocacy led to that
successful outcome.

With just 13 days before the 2011 election, Mr. Arnott is still pushing for the government to support the
Georgetown Hospital renovation project.

“I’ve always advocated equally for both of our hospitals,” said Mr. Arnott. “Until the Minister comes
through for Halton Hills, I will not give up.”

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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone 519-787-5247
Email ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org